NHL Fantasy Start / Sit – 1/27

Please note that you should always start your star players. This list is here to help you if you have two similar players and are debating on which one to start.

While a player may be a “sit” recommendation, he should still be put in your lineup over a player without a game tonight. Accumulating stats takes priority over no stats at all.

Different factors go into picking start / sit candidates including strength of opponent, scoring categories, history vs opponent and sometimes, gut feelings. Take that into consideration before making your final decision.

Players are listed in no particular order.

NOTE:These recommendations are posted before the first game of the day. Some changes may be made if any major changes occur to NHL lineups such as injuries, scratches, or especially, starting goalies, once new information is received. Check back often for any changes, especially for late games.

Forwards

File Photo: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Start

Sit

Ryan Malone – TB

Marcus Johansson – WAS

(Getting plenty of ice time. 3 G, 10 SOG in 4 gms)

(Scoreless, only 2 SOG in 4 gms. 1 pt in 8 gms vs BUF)

Tyler Kennedy – PIT

Patric Hornqvist – NSH

(4th on team with 8 SOG. Will get top line play again)

(Out indefinitely with a knee injury)

Drew Stafford – BUF

Mikhail Grigorenko – BUF

(Slow start, but 12 SOG in 4 gms. 9 G in 18 gms vs WAS)

(Scoreless, -1, 3 SOG, just 10:42 ATOI in 4 gms)

Damien Brunner – DET

Alex Burrows – VAN

(Looks good early. 18 SOG in 4 games)

(8 pts, -2 in 26 career games vs SJ)

Steve Ott – BUF

Max Pacioretty – MON

(10 SOG, 21 hits in 4 gms. Physical line should do well vs WSH)

(Emergency appendectomy. Out 3-4 weeks)

Defensemen

File Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Start

Sit

Raphael Diaz – MON

Kevin Bieksa – VAN

(Off to a great start with 5 pts, 3 on the PP, in 3 games)

(Scoreless, -2 in first 4 games)

Sami Salo – TB

Jared Spurgeon – MIN

(3 pts, +8, 5 SOG in 4 games)

(Placed on IR. Will miss a few games)

Travis Hamonic – NYI

Tyler Myers – BUF

(Winnipeg guy. 4 pts, 14 hits, 15 bk shots in 6 gms vs WPG)

(Not offering much in any stat category right now)

Marek Zidlicky – NJ

Jason Garrison – VAN

(3 pts, 2 on the PP, 8 SOG in 3 games)

(Still scoreless with his new team)

Luke Schenn – PHI

Ryan Suter – NSH

(2 pts, +3, 18 hits, 8 SOG in 5 games)

(Tough matchup. Slow start w/ 1 pt, -4 in 4 games)

Goalies

File Photo: Greg Fiume/Getty Images

Start

Sit

Michal Neuvirth – WAS

Marc-Andre Fleury – PIT

(Gets the start again. Looked solid last game)

(7-8-1, 3.57 GAA career vs Sens; 3-4-0, 4.28 GAA at OTT)

Evgeni Nabokov – NYI

Anders Lindback – TB

(7-1-2, 1.87 GAA in 10 gms vs WPG)

(3.67 GAA in 3 gms. 0-2, 3.04 GAA career vs PHI)

Al Montoya – NYI

Antti Niemi – SJ

(Faces his old team for the 1st time in his career)

(3-6-2, 3.13 GAA in 11 gms vs VAN)

Brian Elliott – STL

Cory Schneider – VAN

(Gets the start today for the high powered Blues)

(Tough matchup. 4.10 GAA in 4 gms vs SJ)

Remember, use this list as a guideline if you are debating between a few players to round out your lineup. Just because a star player appears on the “sit” list doesn’t necessarily mean you should sit that player if your other options aren’t decidedly better.

If you have any questions about your fantasy lineup, don’t hesitate to ask.

About This Empire Soldier: Carlos is the NHL Rankings and Content Editor for Dynasty Sports Empire.
He has been a hockey fan for as long as he can remember, and has been writing about hockey for over five years.
He is the owner / writer / editor for SpeakingoftheDevils.com and has also contributed work for various other hockey websites.
He has been playing fantasy sports since the days when you had to pull stats from USA Today the morning after games were played.